System and method for rerouting of document processing jobs

ABSTRACT

A system and method for selective rerouting of document processing jobs is provided. A printer driver first converts electronic document data is into a device compatible format and assigned a unique document ID. The printer driver then determines a set of network devices, such as document processing devices, that are participating in the performance of received document processing jobs. The converted document data is then divided into portions and one or more portions are then sent to each of the participating network devices. One of the devices is then selected as the output device, whereupon the output device broadcasts/multicasts a request for processed data portions from each of the other network devices. The received portions are then recombined, and released for further processing in accordance with the received document processing job.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a system and method for rerouting ofdocument processing jobs. More particularly, this invention is directedto a system and method which allows a user to perform documentprocessing operations on any of the available document processingdevices.

Typically, when a user desires to generate an electronic document, theuser transmits the electronic document to a document processing devicewherein the document is placed into a job queue. Most current documentprocessing systems require the user to select a specific documentprocessing device at the time of job submission. One issue with suchsystems is that the user must have the routing information for thedesignated device and know where the device is physically located.Another issue is if the document processing device is malfunctioning,the user may still be able to submit jobs to the device, but the devicewill not process any jobs until the device is again operational.Further, the selected device may be busy processing prior jobs. The userwill then have to wait for the prior jobs to be processed before theuser's job is processed. In order to avoid such problems, many currentdocument processing systems will search the network for other documentprocessing devices that can handle the jobs and inform the user of anavailable device or devices. The document processing system may theneither automatically route the job to an available device or require theuser to re-route the job. However, the available device may bephysically located far from the user or the user may not know thelocation of the device. As such, there is a need for a documentprocessing system and method which allows a user to submit a documentprocessing job via the network, such that the job will be processed byselected available devices, thereby relieving the user of designating aspecific device. There is also a need for a document processing systemand method wherein the user may retrieve the job from any deviceassociated with the system or network.

The subject application overcomes the above noted problems and providesa system and method for rerouting of document processing jobs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the subject application, there is provided a systemand method for rerouting of document processing jobs.

Further, in accordance with the subject application, there is provided asystem and method which allows a user to perform document processingoperations on any of the available document processing devices.

Still further, in accordance with the subject application, there isprovided a system and method which allows a user to submit a documentprocessing job via the network, such that the job will be processed byselected available devices, thereby relieving the user of designating aspecific device.

Still further, in accordance with the subject application, there isprovided a system and method wherein a user may retrieve the job fromany device associated with the system or network.

Still further, in accordance with the subject application, there isprovided a system for rerouting of document processing jobs. The systemincludes means adapted for receiving electronic document datarepresentative of a document processing job for an associated documentprocessing device and means adapted for converting received electronicdocument data into page description data comprised of at least oneselected page description language format. The system also includesmeans adapted for assigning unique document identification data to thedocument processing job. The system further includes determining meansadapted for determining a set of available document processing devicesavailable for processing of the document processing job and allocationmeans adapted for communicating at least a portion of the pagedescription data to each of the set of available document processingdevices for processing into page output data. The system also comprisesmeans adapted for receiving page output data from each of the set ofavailable document processing devices and means adapted forcommunicating page output data received from each of the set ofavailable document processing devices to at least one selected documentprocessing device for processing therefrom.

Still further, in accordance with the subject application, there isprovided a method for rerouting electronic documents. Electronicdocument data representative of a document processing job for anassociated document processing device is received and then convertedinto page description data comprised of at least one selected pagedescription language format. A unique document identification data isthen assigned to the document processing job. A set of availabledocument processing devices available for processing of the documentprocessing job is then determined and at least a portion of the pagedescription data is communicated to each of the set available documentprocessing devices for processing into page output data. The page outputdata is received from each of the set of available document processingdevices and then is communicated to at least one selected documentprocessing device for processing therefrom.

Preferably, the page output data is communicated to the at least oneselected document processing device in accordance with theidentification data.

In one embodiment, the system and method further include the ability toreceive, from an associated user, selection data representative of theat least one selected document processing device.

In another embodiment, the system and method also include detecting atleast one inoperative document processing device in the set of availabledocument processing devices. The page description data targeted to theat least one inoperative document processing device is allocated to atleast one other of the set of available document processing devices.

In yet another embodiment, the system and method also include theability to selectively store page output data for selective completionof at least one additional document processing operation. Preferably,the stored page output data is selectively deleted upon at least one ofexpiration of a pre-selected time duration and receipt of a deletesignal from an associated user.

Still other advantages, aspects and features of the subject applicationwill become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing description wherein there is shown and described a preferredembodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one ofthe best modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will berealized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments andits several details are capable of modifications in various obviousaspects all without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded asillustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject application is described with reference to certain figures,including:

FIG. 1 which is an overall system diagram for the system for reroutingdocument processing jobs according to the subject application;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating workstation for use in the systemfor rerouting document processing jobs according to the subjectapplication;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one method for rerouting documentprocessing jobs according to the subject application; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another method for rerouting documentprocessing jobs according to the subject application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The subject application is directed to a system and method for reroutingof document processing jobs. In particular, according to the subjectapplication, there is provided a system and method which allows a userto perform document processing operations on any of the availabledocument processing devices. More particularly there is provided asystem and method which allows a user to submit a document processingjob via the network, such that the job will be processed by selectedavailable devices, thereby relieving the user of designating a specificdevice. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application,there is provided a system and method wherein a user is able to retrievethe job from any device associated with the system or network. As willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art, a document processing job,as used herein, refers to any requested document processing operation tobe performed on an associated document, image, or the like.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a system 100 in accordance withthe subject application. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 100includes a distributed computing environment, represented as a computernetwork 102. It will be appreciated that the computer network 102 is anydistributed communications environment known in the art capable ofallowing two or more electronic devices to exchange data. The skilledartisan will understand that the computer network 102 is any computernetwork, known in the art, including, for example and withoutlimitation, a local area network, a wide area network, a personal areanetwork, a virtual network, the Internet, or any combination thereof. Inthe preferred embodiment, the network 102 is comprised of physicallayers and transport layers, as illustrated by a myriad of conventionaldata transport mechanisms, including, for example and withoutlimitation, Ethernet, Token-Ring, 802.11(x), or other wire-based orwireless data communication mechanisms.

In the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the system 100includes at least one client device 104 having an associated user.Preferably, the workstation 104 is communicatively coupled to thecomputer network 102 via a suitable communications link 106. Thefunctioning of the client device 104 will better be understood inconjunction with the block diagram illustrated in FIG. 2, explained ingreater detail below. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the client device 104 is depicted in FIG. 1 as a computerworkstation for illustration purposes only. As the skilled artisan willunderstand, the workstation 104 shown in FIG. 1 is representative of anypersonal computing device known in the art, including, for example andwithout limitation, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personaldata assistant, a web-enabled cellular telephone, a smart phone, orother web-enabled electronic device suitably capable of generatingand/or transmitting electronic document data to a multifunctionalperipheral device.

Communication between the workstation 104 and the computer network 102is advantageously accomplished via the communications link 106. Thecommunications link 106 is any suitable channel of data communicationsknown in the art including, but not limited to wireless communications,for example and without limitation, Bluetooth, WiMax, 802.11a, 802.11b,802.11g, 802.11(x), a proprietary communications network, infrared,optical, the public switched telephone network, or any suitable wirelessdata transmission system, or wired communications known in the art. Inthe preferred embodiment, the workstation 104 is suitably adapted togenerate an electronic document using any document or image generatingapplication known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a plurality ofdocument processing devices, represented in FIG. 1 as the multifunctionperipheral device 108, the multifunction peripheral device 110, and themultifunction peripheral device 112. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art the document processing devices 108, 110, and 112 areadvantageously represented in FIG. 1 as multifunction peripheraldevices, suitably adapted to provide a variety of document processingservices, such as, for example and without limitation, electronic mail,scanning, copying, facsimile, document management, printing, and thelike. Suitable commercially available document rendering devicesinclude, but are not limited to, the Toshiba e-Studio Series Controller.In one embodiment, the document processing devices 108, 110, and 112 aresuitably equipped to receive a plurality of portable storage media,including without limitation, Firewire drive, USB drive, SD, MMC, XD,Compact Flash, Memory Stick, and the like. In the preferred embodimentof the subject application, each document processing device 108, 110,and 112, further include an associated user-interface, such as atouch-screen interface, LCD display, or the like, via which anassociated user is able to interact directly with the respectivedocument processing device 108, 110, or 112.

Each of the document processing devices 108, 110, and 112 are in datacommunication with the computer network 102 via suitable communicationlinks 114, 116, and 118, respectively. In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the subject application, suitable communications links114, 116, and 118 employed in accordance with the subject applicationinclude, WiMax, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), Bluetooth, thepublic switched telephone network, a proprietary communications network,infrared, optical, or any other suitable wired or wireless datatransmission communications known in the art. In a preferred embodiment,the document processing devices 108, 110, and 112 are advantageouslyregistered as participating in the document processing operations inaccordance with the subject application.

Turning now to FIG. 2, illustrated is a hardware diagram of a suitableworkstation 200 for use in connection with the subject system. Asuitable workstation includes a processor unit 202 which isadvantageously placed in data communication with read only memory 204,suitably non-volatile read only memory, volatile read only memory or acombination thereof, random access memory 206, display interface 208,storage interface 210, and network interface 212. In a preferredembodiment, interface to the foregoing modules is suitably accomplishedvia a bus 214.

Read only memory 204 suitably includes firmware, such as static data orfixed instructions, such as BIOS, system functions, configuration data,and other routines used for operation of the workstation 200 via CPU202.

Random access memory 206 provides a storage area for data andinstructions associated with applications and data handling accomplishedby processor 202.

Display interface 208 receives data or instructions from othercomponents on bus 214, which data is specific to generating a display tofacilitate a user interface. Display interface 208 suitably providesoutput to a display terminal 226, suitably a video display device suchas a monitor, LCD, plasma, or any other suitable visual output device aswill be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Storage interface 210 suitably provides a mechanism for non-volatile,bulk or long term storage of data or instructions in the workstation200. Storage interface 210 suitably uses a storage mechanism, such asstorage 218, suitably comprised of a disk, tape, CD, DVD, or otherrelatively higher capacity addressable or serial storage medium.

Network interface 212 suitably communicates to at least one othernetwork interface, shown as network interface 220, such as a networkinterface card. It will be appreciated that by one or ordinary skill inthe art that a suitable network interface is comprised of both physicaland protocol layers and is suitably any wired system, such as Ethernet,token ring, or any other wide area or local area network communicationsystem, or wireless system, such as WiFi, WiMax, or any other suitablewireless network system, as will be appreciated by on of ordinary skillin the art.

An input/output interface 216 in data communication with bus 214 issuitably connected with an input device 222, such as a keyboard or thelike. Input/output interface 216 also suitably provides data output to aperipheral interface 224, such as a USB, universal serial bus output,SCSI, Firewire (IEEE 1394) output, or any other interface as may beappropriate for a selected application. Finally, input/output interface216 is suitably in data communication with a pointing device interface228 for connection with devices, such as a mouse, light pen, touchscreen, or the like.

In operation, according to the preferred embodiment of the subjectapplication, a user associated with the workstation 104 generates anelectronic document, or selects an electronic document for processing ona selected document processing device. As will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art, the electronic document is any image or documentdata, as is known in the art, which the associated user desires to haveprocessed by the document processing device. The associated userinitiates a document processing request, corresponding to the desireddocument processing operation to be performed on the selected electronicdocument. A printer driver, or other software application known in theart, located on the workstation 104, is then initiated, therebyimplementing one aspect of the subject application. Preferably, theprinter driver converts the electronic document into a page descriptionlanguage, such as the Postscript® language by Adobe Systems,Incorporated, or Printer Control Language (PCL) by Hewlett-PackardCorporation, and assigns the user a unique document ID corresponding tothe converted electronic document. The skilled artisan will appreciatethat any suitable device compatible format is capable of being used bythe printer driver to generate suitable page description data.

Following conversion of the electronic document and assignment of theunique document ID, the printer driver searches the network 102 forthose document processing devices 108, 110, and 112, or a subnet ofdocument processing devices, participating in accordance with thesubject application. As used herein, the term participating refers tothose document processing devices capable of receiving a portion of adocument processing request, or retrieving electronic document data froma client device in accordance with the methods described hereinafter.The printer driver then divides, i.e., breaks down, the converteddocument data into small portions, or chunks of data. The skilledartisan will appreciate that any suitable methods for parsing anddividing the document data as are known in the art, such aspacketization, are capable of being employed in accordance with thesubject application. The printer driver then sends groups of thesechunks to different document processing devices 108, 110, and 112, onthe network 102, so as to balance the load between various documentprocessing devices.

For example, when two copies of a document are to be output and threedocument processing devices 108, 110, and 112, are available, theprinter driver divides the electronic document into three portions. Eachportion is numbered and sets of two portions are sent to each documentprocessing device. Thus, document processing device 108 receivesportions one and two, document processing device 110 receives portionstwo and three, and document processing device 112 receives portionsthree and one. The portions are thereby overlapped resulting in theallocation of two complete sets of documents among the participatingdocument processing devices 108, 110, and 112.

The user associated with the electronic document then determines whichdocument processing device the user desires to perform the documentprocessing operation. This selection is advantageously made by releasingthe document for processing at the user interface associated with theselected document processing device. For example, when the user desiresthat the document processing device 108 perform the selected operation,the user inputs the unique document ID at the user interface associatedwith the document processing device 108. The selected documentprocessing device 108 then transmits a message via the computer network102 requesting data corresponding to the document associated with theunique document ID. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,the message is capable of being broadcasted, multi-casted, or anysuitable transmission form corresponding thereto. The participatingdocument processing devices 110 and 112 then transmit those portionspreviously received from the printer driver to the requesting documentprocessing device 108.

The requesting document processing device 108 then recombines thoseportions, or chunks, so as to recreate the page description dataassociated with the converted electronic document. After the selecteddocument processing operation has been performed, the recombined pagedescription data is automatically expired and deleted upon the elapse ofa predetermined time interval. In the event that the user has notselected a document processing device within a predetermined timeinterval, the portions, or chunks, are deleted from the participatingdocument processing devices 108, 110, and 112. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that when one of the document processingdevices 108, 110, or 112 is unavailable, for mechanical failure, or thelike, the overlapping instituted in accordance with the subjectapplication allows for completion of the job by the remainingparticipating document processing devices.

In an alternate embodiment of the subject application, a user associatedwith the workstation 104 generates an electronic document, or selects anelectronic document for processing on a selected document processingdevice. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, theelectronic document is any image or document data, as is known in theart, which the associated user desires to have processed by the documentprocessing device. The associated user initiates a document processingrequest, corresponding to the desired document processing operation tobe performed on the selected electronic document. A printer driver, onthe workstation 104, or other software application known in the art, isthen initiated, thereby implementing one aspect of the subjectapplication. Preferably, the printer driver converts the electronicdocument into a page description language, such as Postscript® or PCL,and assigns the user a unique document ID corresponding to the convertedelectronic document. The skilled artisan will appreciate that anysuitable device compatible format is capable of being used by theprinter driver to generate suitable page description data.

Following conversion of the electronic document and assignment of theunique document ID, the printer driver stores the converted electronicdocument in a temporary storage location associated with the workstation104. The driver then searches the network 102 for those documentprocessing devices 108, 110, and 112, or a subnet of document processingdevices, participating in accordance with the subject application. Theprinter driver then transmits, to each participating document processingdevice 108, 110, and 112, a special sequence of characters, denoting thelocation of the converted electronic document, i.e., the pagedescription data, and the assigned unique document ID.

The user associated with the electronic document then determines whichdocument processing device the user desires to perform the documentprocessing operation. This selection is advantageously made by releasingthe document for processing at the user interface associated with theselected document processing device. For example, when the user desiresthat the document processing device 110 perform the selected operation,the user inputs the unique document ID at the user interface associatedwith the document processing device 110. The selected documentprocessing device 110 then uses the data contained within the specialsequence of characters to identify the location of the convertedelectronic document to be processed and retrieves the document from thetemporary storage associated with the workstation 104. The selecteddocument processing device 110 then performs the selected documentprocessing operation and the user is able to delete the converteddocument data from the temporary storage location.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the system 100illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with the subject applicationwill better be understood by those skilled in the art when interpretedin conjunction with the methodologies illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a flowchart 300 depicting a methodfor routing electronic documents in accordance with the subjectapplication. Beginning at step 302, a printer driver associated with aworkstation 104 receives a document processing request from anassociated user. It will be understood by those skilled in the art thatthe receipt of the document processing request advantageously originateswithin a word processing program, an image processing program, or thelike, operating on the workstation 104. In addition, the user is able toselect a file for output from a directory via any suitable means knownin the art. Irrespective of the manner in which the printer driverreceives the document processing request, the printer driver convertsthe electronic document associated with the document processing requestinto a device compatible format at step 304. As previously discussed,suitably acceptable device compatible formats include a page descriptionlanguage in Adobe Postscript® format, PCL format, or any other pagedescription language known in the art. The printer driver then assigns aunique document ID to the user associated with the converted electronicdocument data at step 306.

At step 308, the printer driver determines those document processingdevices 108, 110, and 112, resident on the computer network 102 andparticipating in the document processing methodology set forth inaccordance with the subject application. Once the set of documentprocessing devices 108, 110, and 112 has been determined, flow proceedsto step 310, whereupon the printer driver divides the documentprocessing job into a plurality of portions. It will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the number of portions into which thedocument processing job is divided is dependent upon a variety offactors, including, for example and without limitation, the size of thejob, the type of document processing operation, the relative priority ofthe job, the processing parameters, or the like. The portions generatedby the printer driver are then sent to the participating documentprocessing devices 108, 110, and 112 at step 312. It will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that the number of portions sent to eachdocument processing device 108, 110, and 112 is determined based upon avariety of factors, including, for example and without limitation, thesize of the document processing job, the type of document, the number ofcopies to be output, the processing parameters selected by the user, andthe like.

A determination is then made at step 314 whether one of theparticipating document processing devices 108, 110, or 112 isnon-operable, that is, whether or not one of the participating devicesis not currently in operation or is unable to perform the selecteddocument processing operation. A positive determination at step 314prompts the printer driver, at step 316, to allocate those portionstargeted to the non-operable device to at least one of the otheroperable devices. For example, when device 110 is not operable, theportions targeted to device 110 are capable of being sent instead todevice 108, device 112, or divided between both devices 108 and 112.Flow then proceeds to step 318, whereupon the associated user selectsone of the participating document processing devices 108 or 112 (inaccordance with the preceding example) to output the document processingjob. A negative determination at step 314, i.e., all devices 108, 110,and 112 are operable, prompts flow to proceed to step 318, whereafterthe associated user selects one of the devices 108, 110, or 112 tooutput the document processing job. In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the subject application, selection of the output device isaccomplished by the user inputting the assigned unique document ID atthe user-interface associated with the selected document processingdevice. The skilled artisan will appreciate that other methods ofselecting the output device are equally capable of being implementedwithout departing from the scope of the subject application.

At step 320 the associated user, via the user-interface associated withthe selected document processing device, releases the documentprocessing job for output via any suitable means known in the art. Forexample, the associated user selects document processing device 108 asthe output device by inputting the unique document ID at its associateduser-interface. At step 322, the selected output device, i.e., device108, broadcasts/multicasts a request for all portions on other devices110 and 112 corresponding to the input unique document ID. Theseportions are then received from the devices 110 and 112 by the outputdevice 108 and recombined at step 324 to form the converted electronicdocument data, wherein the recombined data corresponds to the pagedescription data associated with the original electronic document. Theselected document processing operation is then performed by the outputdevice 108 at step 326.

A determination is then made at step 328 whether additional documentprocessing operations, with respect to the recombined document, remain.When no further document processing operations on the document remainfor processing, the operation terminates. When further operations arenoted by the document processing device 108, flow proceeds to step 330,whereupon the page output data, i.e., the recombined document in thedevice compatible format, is stored in associated memory. Adetermination is then made at step 332 whether a predetermined timelimit has expired. When the time limit has expired, flow proceeds tostep 336, whereupon the data is deleted and the operation terminates.When the time has not elapsed, flow proceeds to step 334, whereupon adetermination is made whether a delete signal has been receivedindicating that the additional document processing operation has beenperformed, or that the user does not require further operations. When apositive determination is made at step 334, flow progresses to step 336,whereupon the data is deleted. When no such deletion signal has beenreceived, flow returns to step 332 to await the elapse of thepredetermined period of time or the receipt of a deletion signal.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a flowchart 400 illustrating analternative embodiment of the electronic document routing methodology inaccordance with the subject application. Beginning at step 402, aprinter driver, resident on the workstation 104, receives a documentprocessing request from an associated user. Preferably, the documentprocessing request includes data representative of an electronicdocument, including, but not limited to image data, document data,spreadsheet data, or the like, as well as a selected document processingoperation to be performed on the electronic document. At step 404, theprinter driver converts the electronic document data into a devicecompatible format, i.e., page description data in a suitable pagedescription language format. As previously mentioned, suitable languageformats include, for example and without limitation, the Postscriptsformat, the PCL format, and the like. A unique document ID is thenassigned to the user corresponding to the converted document data atstep 406. This converted document data, or page description data, isthen stored, at step 408, in a memory associated with workstation 104.

A determination is then made at step 410 whether a predetermined periodof time has elapsed. When this time limit has expired, the converteddocument data is deleted from the memory associated with the workstation104 at step 414, whereupon the operation terminates. When thepredetermined period of time has not expired, flow proceeds to step 412,whereupon a determination is made whether a deletion signal has beenreceived. When such a signal has been received, the converted documentdata is deleted from storage at step 414 and the operation terminates.When no such deletion signal has been received, flow proceeds to step416, whereupon the printer driver ascertains the set of participatingnetwork devices 108, 110, and 112.

Once the printer driver of the workstation 104 has determined thoseparticipating devices 108, 110, and 112, flow proceeds to step 418,whereupon the driver transmits a character sequence designating thelocation and unique document ID associated with the document processingrequest to each of the participating devices 108, 110, and 112. As willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art, the character sequenceincludes, for example and without limitation, the location datacorresponding to the location of the converted document data in theassociated memory, data representing the selected document processingoperation, data representing the unique document ID, and the like. Theskilled artisan will further appreciate that the term character sequenceis for illustration purposes only, and the data described above iscapable of being included within a data packet transmitted from theworkstation 104 to each of the participating document processing devices108, 110, and 112, via the computer network 102.

Once all participating document processing devices 108, 110, and 112have received the character sequence, flow proceeds to the selection ofthe output device by the associated user at step 420. As will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, the selection of the desiredoutput device, e.g., device 110, is accomplished by the user inputtingthe unique document ID corresponding to the document processing requestat the user-interface associated with the selected output device 110.The user then releases, via any suitable means, the electronic documentfor processing by the selected output device 110 via any suitable meansknown in the art. Preferably, the user selects a release optiondisplayed on the associated user-interface. At step 424, the selectedoutput device 110 identifies the source location of the releaseddocument, i.e., the location in workstation 104 memory where theconverted document data is stored. The device 110 then pulls, from theworkstation 104 via the computer network 102, the converted electronicdocument data at step 426 and performs the selected document processingoperation at step 428.

A determination is then made at step 430 whether additional documentprocessing operations are to be performed on the converted documentdata. When additional operations are to be performed, flow returns tostep 420, whereupon the user selects a desired document processingdevice 108, 110, or 112 to perform the operation. Operations continuethereafter as explained above with respect to steps 422-430. When noadditional operations are to be performed, flow returns to step 410,whereupon a determination is made as to the expiration of apredetermined period of storage time. When this time limit has beenreached, the converted electronic document data is deleted from thememory of workstation 104 at step 414, following which the operationterminates. When this time limit has not yet expired, flow proceeds fromstep 410 to step 412, whereupon a determination is made whether theworkstation 104 has received a deletion signal. When the deletion signalhas not been received, flow progresses to step 416 in accordance withthe method described above. When a deletion signal has been received bythe workstation 104, the converted document data is deleted from theassociated memory at step 414 and the operation of the method, as setforth in FIG. 4, terminates.

The invention extends to computer programs in the form of source code,object code, code intermediate sources and partially compiled objectcode, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of theinvention. Computer programs are suitably standalone applications,software components, scripts or plug-ins to other applications. Computerprograms embedding the invention are advantageously embodied on acarrier, being any entity or device capable of carrying the computerprogram: for example, a storage medium such as ROM or RAM, opticalrecording media such as CD-ROM or magnetic recording media such asfloppy discs. The carrier is any transmissible carrier such as anelectrical or optical signal conveyed by electrical or optical cable, orby radio or other means. Computer programs are suitably downloadedacross the Internet from a server. Computer programs are also capable ofbeing embedded in an integrated circuit. Any and all such embodimentscontaining code that will cause a computer to perform substantially theinvention principles as described, will fall within the scope of theinvention.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to providethe best illustration of the principles of the invention and itspractical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the artto use the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

1. A system for selective rerouting of document processing jobscomprising: means adapted for receiving electronic document datarepresentative of a document processing job for an associated documentprocessing device; means adapted for converting received electronicdocument data into page description data comprised of at least oneselected page description language format; means adapted for assigningunique document identification data to the document processing job;determining means adapted for determining a set of available documentprocessing devices available for processing of the document processingjob; allocation means adapted for communicating at least a portion ofthe page description data to each of the set of available documentprocessing devices for processing into page output data; means adaptedfor receiving page output data from each of the set of availabledocument processing devices; and means adapted for communicating pageoutput data received from each of the set of available documentprocessing devices to at least one selected document processing devicefor processing therefrom.
 2. The system for selective rerouting ofdocument processing jobs of claim 1 further comprising means adapted forreceiving, from an associated user, selection data representative of theat least one selected document processing device.
 3. The system forselective rerouting of document processing jobs of claim 1 furthercomprising: means adapted for detecting at least one inoperativedocument processing device in the set of available document processingdevices; and wherein the allocation means includes means for allocatingpage description data targeted to the at least one inoperative documentprocessing device to at least one other of the set of available documentprocessing devices.
 4. The system for selective rerouting of documentprocessing jobs of claim 1 wherein each of the set of available documentprocessing devices includes means adapted for communicating page outputdata to the at least one selected document processing device inaccordance with the identification data.
 5. The system for selectivererouting of document processing jobs of claim 1 further comprisingmeans adapted for selectively storing page output data for selectivecompletion of at least one additional document processing operation. 6.The system for selective rerouting of document processing jobs of claim5 further comprising means adapted for selectively deleting stored pageoutput data upon at least one of expiration of a pre-selected timeduration and receipt of a delete signal from an associated user.
 7. Amethod for selective rerouting of document processing jobs comprisingthe steps of: receiving electronic document data representative of adocument processing job for an associated document processing device;converting received electronic document data into page description datacomprised of at least one selected page description language format;assigning unique document identification data to the document processingjob; determining a set of available document processing devicesavailable for processing of the document processing job; communicatingat least a portion of the page description data to each of the setavailable document processing devices for processing into page outputdata; receiving page output data from each of the set of availabledocument processing devices; and communicating page output data receivedfrom each of the set of available document processing devices to atleast one selected document processing device for processing therefrom.8. The method for selective rerouting of document processing jobs ofclaim 7 further comprising the step of receiving, from an associateduser, selection data representative of the at least one selecteddocument processing device.
 9. The method for selective rerouting ofdocument processing jobs of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:detecting at least one inoperative document processing device in the setof available document processing devices; and allocating pagedescription data targeted to the at least one inoperative documentprocessing device to at least one other of the set of available documentprocessing devices.
 10. The method for selective rerouting of documentprocessing jobs of claim 7 wherein the step of communicating page outputdata to the at least one selected document processing device is inaccordance with the identification data.
 11. The method for selectivererouting of document processing jobs of claim 7 further comprising thestep of selectively storing page output data for selective completion ofat least one additional document processing operation.
 12. The methodfor selective rerouting of document processing jobs of claim 11 furthercomprising the step of selectively deleting stored page output data uponat least one of expiration of a pre-selected time duration and receiptof a delete signal from an associated user.
 13. A computer-implementedmethod for selective rerouting of document processing jobs comprisingthe steps of: receiving electronic document data representative of adocument processing job for an associated document processing device;converting received electronic document data into page description datacomprised of at least one selected page description language format;assigning unique document identification data to the document processingjob; determining a set of available document processing devicesavailable for processing of the document processing job; communicatingat least a portion of the page description data to each of the setavailable document processing devices for processing into page outputdata; receiving page output data from each of the set of availabledocument processing devices; and communicating page output data receivedfrom each of the set of available document processing devices to atleast one selected document processing device for processing therefrom.14. The computer-implemented method for selective rerouting of documentprocessing jobs of claim 13 further comprising the step of receiving,from an associated user, selection data representative of the at leastone selected document processing device.
 15. The computer-implementedmethod for selective rerouting of document processing jobs of claim 13further comprising the steps of: detecting at least one inoperativedocument processing device in the set of available document processingdevices; and allocating page description data targeted to the at leastone inoperative document processing device to at least one other of theset of available document processing devices.
 16. Thecomputer-implemented method for selective rerouting of documentprocessing jobs of claim 13 wherein the step of communicating pageoutput data to the at least one selected document processing device isin accordance with the identification data.
 17. The computer-implementedmethod for selective rerouting of document processing jobs of claim 13further comprising the step of selectively storing page output data forselective completion of at least one additional document processingoperation.
 18. The computer-implemented method for selective reroutingof document processing jobs of claim 17 further comprising the step ofselectively deleting stored page output data upon at least one ofexpiration of a pre-selected time duration and receipt of a deletesignal from an associated user.